
Call for the U.S. to Repatriate the Statue of Liberty
French politician Raphaël Glucksmann has called for the United States to return the Statue of Liberty, asserting that recent U.S. actions contradict the values the statue represents. During a convention of his center-left movement, Place Publique, Glucksmann criticized the U.S. for aligning with authoritarian regimes and suppressing scientific freedom, stating, “We gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it. So, it will be just fine here at home.”
The White House dismissed Glucksmann’s demand. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded, “Absolutely not… It’s only because of the United States of America that the French are not speaking German right now. So, they should be very grateful to our great country.”
The Statue of Liberty, designed by French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi, was gifted by France to the U.S. in 1886 as a symbol of freedom and democracy. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates the statue as U.S. government property, making its return to France highly unlikely.
Glucksmann’s remarks reflect his disapproval of certain U.S. policies under President Trump’s administration, particularly regarding international alliances and scientific integrity. However, his views do not represent the official stance of the French government, which continues to maintain diplomatic relations with the United States.